A ground-breaking UK-wide scientific study will help improve the lives of future generations by studying 30,000 children born in 2026.
The Generation New Era birth cohort study will create a comprehensive picture of early childhood in all four nations of the UK.
The study will be funded by £42.8 million from the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Infrastructure Fund and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). It is the first new UK-wide longitudinal birth cohort study in 25 years and follows the Government’s ‘Giving every child the best start in life’ policy paper, which was published earlier this year.
UK Science Minister Lord Vallance said: “This study will help us understand what childhood is like in 21st Century Britain. The results will help us focus on the best interests of newborns across the UK as we deliver our Plan for Change, breaking down the barriers to opportunities by revamping our education systems, healthcare facilities, and more.”
Generation New Era is part of a long UK tradition of research council-funded longitudinal birth cohort studies. These studies have followed the lives of tens of thousands of people over the past eight decades and led to significant medical and policy impacts. These studies have shaped the thinking of successive governments, informing a raft of important policies to improve the provision of services for early years, health, education and employment.
ESRC Executive Chair Stian Westlake said: “The UK has a proud and rich tradition of genuinely world-leading longitudinal cohort research that has produced major policy improvements covering everything from saving the lives of the youngest and most vulnerable children to improving women’s pension rights and recognising the lifelong importance of literacy. This is the latest in a series of UKRI research infrastructure investments supporting longitudinal population studies, and the first new UK wide child-based study in 20 years. The evidence this study produces can underpin policy that makes the UK a happier, healthier and fairer place, improving lives and livelihoods. It is an investment in the future that we are proud to make.”
Generation New Era will be jointly led by Co-Directors Professor Alissa Goodman and Professor Lisa Calderwood of the University College London (UCL) Centre for Longitudinal Studies (CLS) and Professor Pasco Fearon of the University of Cambridge. It will collect data at two key developmental stages, between nine to 11 months and again at three to four years, providing crucial insights before children enter formal education. The research will examine physical, mental and social development, and explore how technological, environmental and social changes affect early childhood experiences. The intention is that Generation New Era will track these children and their families throughout their lives.
This truly four-nations cohort study will benefit from the expertise of senior academics from Swansea University, Ulster University, and The University of Edinburgh. It aims to recruit 30,000 children and families from across the UK, inviting over 60,000 to participate.
The study will focus on engaging fathers and underrepresented groups to ensure diverse representation. It will collect data from all four nations of the UK, with sample boosts for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, ethnic minorities, and low-income families.
This inclusive approach will enable statistically robust comparisons and generate insights into what works best to improve lives and livelihoods across the UK’s varied communities.